By Della Hasselle
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
TIMES SQUARE — Gamers rejoiced in Times Square Wednesday as Microsoft set up three portable game-playing stations to celebrate the launch of its brand-new voice and motion-activated XBOX system, Kinect.
The new system functions without the use of a remote, and allows its users to play games and watch movies, TV, and live sports. In the games, each player's movement is mimicked by an onscreen avatar.
"It's awesome," said musician Normand Edwards Jr., 25, of West Hempstead, L.I., after trying it out Wednesday afternoon. "It's really cool, really active. You really have to move."
More than 50 eager gamers started lining up in front of Toys 'R Us at 3 p.m. Tuesday to snatch up the new systems, which go on sale at midnight. The release was timed to the start of holiday shopping season.
"It's excellent," said Harlem resident Jeremy Rodriguez, 35, who had been on line since before 6 p.m. Tuesday. "It's gonna be on everyone's Christmas list for sure."
Many skipped school or work to wait in line to buy the $150 system, which also also takes photographs and records video of the players running, jumping, squatting and swinging their arms to simulate virtual dance and action game scenarios.
The photos and videos can be posted on Facebook or Twitter, but some players think that defeats the purpose of the system.
"It would really be like a party game," Edwards, 25, said. "Like, you could dance a the party, but you could also dance to it, and it would be on."
